All-ee all-ee oxen free: The children’s game exclamation that tells hide-and-seek players to come out from hiding.

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All-ee all-ee oxen free: The children’s game exclamation that tells hide-and-seek players to come out from hiding.

All-ee all-ee oxen free: The children’s game exclamation that tells...hide-and-seek players to come out from hiding.

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Craig Lee / SFC

Hangtown fry: Also a Washington thing, it’s a fried egg served with bacon and fried oysters. The name "Hangtown" was given to Placerville, CA after a hanging took place during the time of the Gold Rush. Meanwhile, the Hangtown Fry was created after someone struck big and proceeded to waste all that hard earned money on an omelette containing the most lavish ingredients the restaurant could muster: oysters.

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Hangtown fry: Also a Washington thing, it’s a fried egg served with bacon and fried oysters. The name "Hangtown" was given to Placerville, CA after a hanging took place during the time of the Gold Rush. Meanwhile, the Hangtown Fry was created after someone struck big and proceeded to waste all that hard earned money on an omelette containing the most lavish ingredients the restaurant could muster: oysters.

Hangtown fry: Also a Washington thing, it’s a fried egg served with...bacon and fried oysters. The name "Hangtown" was given to Placerville,...CA after a hanging took place during the time of the Gold Rush....Meanwhile, the Hangtown Fry was created after someone struck big and...proceeded to waste all that hard earned money on an omelette...containing the most lavish ingredients the restaurant could muster:...oysters.

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4kodiak / Getty Images

Snail: Cinnamon rolls are sometimes referred to as snails in California by people who like to associate the shape of the baked good they're eating with the animal it sometimes resembles.

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Snail: Cinnamon rolls are sometimes referred to as snails in California by people who like to associate the shape of the baked good they're eating with the animal it sometimes resembles.

Snail: Cinnamon rolls are sometimes referred to as snails in...California by people who like to associate the shape of the baked good...they're eating with the animal it sometimes resembles.

Jackass brandy: DARE says this term is "scattered, but esp[ecially used in] California" to refer to a type of brandy that is illegal, homemade, or just poor in quality. Let us take this moment to state that the term is in no way referencing the man pictured drinking said brandy above. No way.

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Jackass brandy: DARE says this term is "scattered, but esp[ecially used in] California" to refer to a type of brandy that is illegal, homemade, or just poor in quality. Let us take this moment to state that the term is in no way referencing the man pictured drinking said brandy above. No way.

Jackass brandy: DARE says this term is "scattered, but esp[ecially...used in] California" to refer to a type of brandy that is illegal,...homemade, or just poor in quality. Let us take this moment to state...that the term is in no way referencing the man pictured drinking said...brandy above. No way.

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Rachid Dahnoun / Getty Images/Aurora Open

Doghole: A port in a small, shallow bay between Southern Oregon and Central California that operated in the 1800s until 1939, primarily for lumber ships. Possibly this scenic Big Sur spot in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in California?

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Doghole: A port in a small, shallow bay between Southern Oregon and Central California that operated in the 1800s until 1939, primarily for lumber ships. Possibly this scenic Big Sur spot in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in California?

Doghole: A port in a small, shallow bay between Southern Oregon and...Central California that operated in the 1800s until 1939, primarily...for lumber ships. Possibly this scenic Big Sur spot in Julia Pfeiffer...Burns State Park in California?

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Paul Sakuma / AP

Candy pulling: A social gathering for young persons at which candy (usually molasses and taffy) is made. Use of the word is scattered but chiefly in the South, South Midland, Northeast and California. We imagine this was a popular pastime back when pushing hoops down the street with sticks was a thing.

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Candy pulling: A social gathering for young persons at which candy (usually molasses and taffy) is made. Use of the word is scattered but chiefly in the South, South Midland, Northeast and California. We imagine this was a popular pastime back when pushing hoops down the street with sticks was a thing.

Candy pulling: A social gathering for young persons at which candy...(usually molasses and taffy) is made. Use of the word is scattered but...chiefly in the South, South Midland, Northeast and California. We...imagine this was a popular pastime back when pushing hoops down the...street with sticks was a thing.

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Allan Grant

Encino: Any of several evergreen oaks. Perhaps what the L.A.-area neighborhood (seen here in 1962) was named after?

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Encino: Any of several evergreen oaks. Perhaps what the L.A.-area neighborhood (seen here in 1962) was named after?

Encino: Any of several evergreen oaks. Perhaps what the L.A.-area...neighborhood (seen here in 1962) was named after?

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Archive Photos / Getty Images

Miner's consumption: This phrase, used in California, Nevada and Colorado, encompasses any of several lung diseases caused by inhalation of mineral particles or coal dust. Sometimes referred to as "the black lung."

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Miner's consumption: This phrase, used in California, Nevada and Colorado, encompasses any of several lung diseases caused by inhalation of mineral particles or coal dust. Sometimes referred to as "the black lung."

Miner's consumption: This phrase, used in California, Nevada and...Colorado, encompasses any of several lung diseases caused by...inhalation of mineral particles or coal dust. Sometimes referred to as..."the black lung."

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FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP/Getty Images

Pope's Nose: A term used around the North, Texas, and California that surprisingly has nothing to do with his Holiness. Rather, the pope's nose refers to the "bottom" end of a fowl, or sometimes the heel of a loaf of bread. The DARE dictionary lists "poop nose" as a rare variation on this already rare term, but we suspect people weren't really into eating anything called a "poop nose."

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Pope's Nose: A term used around the North, Texas, and California that surprisingly has nothing to do with his Holiness. Rather, the pope's nose refers to the "bottom" end of a fowl, or sometimes the heel of a loaf of bread. The DARE dictionary lists "poop nose" as a rare variation on this already rare term, but we suspect people weren't really into eating anything called a "poop nose."

Pope's Nose: A term used around the North, Texas, and California that...surprisingly has nothing to do with his Holiness. Rather, the pope's...nose refers to the "bottom" end of a fowl, or sometimes the heel of a...loaf of bread. The DARE dictionary lists "poop nose" as a rare...variation on this already rare term, but we suspect people weren't...really into eating anything called a "poop nose."

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Michael Macor / The Chronicle

Abalone: The verb form of this word (fishing for the shellfish) is used exclusively in California. You'll commonly find these used as decorative centerpieces on Californian coffee tables.

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Abalone: The verb form of this word (fishing for the shellfish) is used exclusively in California. You'll commonly find these used as decorative centerpieces on Californian coffee tables.

Abalone: The verb form of this word (fishing for the shellfish) is...used exclusively in California. You'll commonly find these used as...decorative centerpieces on Californian coffee tables.

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Chronicle archives / ONLINE_YES

Cioppino: A noun used mostly in California to describe a fish and shellfish stew cooked with tomatoes, wine, spices and herbs.

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Cioppino: A noun used mostly in California to describe a fish and shellfish stew cooked with tomatoes, wine, spices and herbs.

Cioppino: A noun used mostly in California to describe a fish and...shellfish stew cooked with tomatoes, wine, spices and herbs.

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Ed Reschke / Getty Images

Thimbleberry: Any of several American raspberries, used in Northern California, the Northeast, Northwest and near the Great Lakes.

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Thimbleberry: Any of several American raspberries, used in Northern California, the Northeast, Northwest and near the Great Lakes.

Thimbleberry: Any of several American raspberries, used in Northern...California, the Northeast, Northwest and near the Great Lakes.

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Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

Jelly doughnut: The phrase is widespread now, but is frequently used in California, the South Atlantic and the Northeast.

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Jelly doughnut: The phrase is widespread now, but is frequently used in California, the South Atlantic and the Northeast.

Jelly doughnut: The phrase is widespread now, but is frequently used...in California, the South Atlantic and the Northeast.

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Robert Potts / SFC California Academy of Scienc

Mosquito bill: The Dodecatheon hendersonii is often colloquially known as a "mosquito bill," "broad-leaved shooting star," or "sailor caps." The western American plant produces spectacular flowers of purple with a yellow zone at the base, held aloft on foot-long reddish stems.

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Mosquito bill: The Dodecatheon hendersonii is often colloquially known as a "mosquito bill," "broad-leaved shooting star," or "sailor caps." The western American plant produces spectacular flowers of purple with a yellow zone at the base, held aloft on foot-long reddish stems.

Mosquito bill: The Dodecatheon hendersonii is often colloquially known...as a "mosquito bill," "broad-leaved shooting star," or "sailor caps."...The western American plant produces spectacular flowers of purple...with a yellow zone at the base, held aloft on foot-long reddish stems.

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PATRICK PLEUL / AFP/Getty Images

Black frost:
The "somewhat old-fashioned" phrase used in the Northeast, Great Lakes, Central Atlantic, South Atlantic and California describes a frost or cold that kills vegetation, according to the DARE folks. But in the south, it is used to describe freezing weather not cold enough to kill vegetation. We have agreed to disagree.

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Black frost:
The "somewhat old-fashioned" phrase used in the Northeast, Great Lakes, Central Atlantic, South Atlantic and California describes a frost or cold that kills vegetation, according to the DARE folks. But in the south, it is used to describe freezing weather not cold enough to kill vegetation. We have agreed to disagree.

Black frost:
The "somewhat old-fashioned" phrase used in the...Northeast, Great Lakes, Central Atlantic, South Atlantic and...California describes a frost or cold that kills vegetation, according...to the DARE folks. But in the south, it is used to describe freezing...weather not cold enough to kill vegetation. We have agreed to...disagree.

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Michael Short / The Chronicle

Embarcadero: This California word is used to describe a wharf, port or landing place, especially one on a river serving an inland settlement.

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Embarcadero: This California word is used to describe a wharf, port or landing place, especially one on a river serving an inland settlement.

Embarcadero: This California word is used to describe a wharf, port or...landing place, especially one on a river serving an inland...settlement.

Image 18 of 24|Which words are special to Californians?

Michael Macor / The Chronicle

Mountain cat: The phrase is widely used to describe a mountain lion or wildcat, but in California it means ring-tailed cat.

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Mountain cat: The phrase is widely used to describe a mountain lion or wildcat, but in California it means ring-tailed cat.

Mountain cat: The phrase is widely used to describe a mountain lion or...wildcat, but in California it means ring-tailed cat.

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Michael Macor / The Chronicle

Gulch: Use of the word for a steep-sided valley is scattered, but especially prevalent in California. Seen here is Bear Gulch Reservoir at Pinnacles National Monument, on Wednesday August 1, 2012, in central California.

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Gulch: Use of the word for a steep-sided valley is scattered, but especially prevalent in California. Seen here is Bear Gulch Reservoir at Pinnacles National Monument, on Wednesday August 1, 2012, in central California.

Gulch: Use of the word for a steep-sided valley is scattered, but...especially prevalent in California. Seen here is Bear Gulch Reservoir...at Pinnacles National Monument, on Wednesday August 1, 2012, in...central California.

Image 20 of 24|Which words are special to Californians?

Bill Gorum / Getty Images/Flickr Open

Red Racer: Californians have been known to call the Red Coachwhip snake (Coluber flagellum testaceus for all you science folk) a red racer due to their quick pace on the ground.

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Red Racer: Californians have been known to call the Red Coachwhip snake (Coluber flagellum testaceus for all you science folk) a red racer due to their quick pace on the ground.

Red Racer: Californians have been known to call the Red Coachwhip...snake (Coluber flagellum testaceus for all you science folk) a red...racer due to their quick pace on the ground.

Image 21 of 24|Which words are special to Californians?

Fotosearch / Getty Images

Sluice: A long trough in which water washes over gold-bearing soil and gravel, allowing gold particles to settle to the bottom. Mainly used in the West but especially common in California and Arkansas.

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Sluice: A long trough in which water washes over gold-bearing soil and gravel, allowing gold particles to settle to the bottom. Mainly used in the West but especially common in California and Arkansas.

Sluice: A long trough in which water washes over gold-bearing soil and...gravel, allowing gold particles to settle to the bottom. Mainly used...in the West but especially common in California and Arkansas.

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Jim Simmen / Getty Images

Chispa: In the continued compendium of Californian gold rush, chispa means a gold nugget.

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Chispa: In the continued compendium of Californian gold rush, chispa means a gold nugget.

Chispa: In the continued compendium of Californian gold rush, chispa...means a gold nugget.

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Matt Meadows / Getty Images

Riffle: The riffle is another gold mining tool. Remember the sluice? Well, the riffle is the small strip of metal or wood laid across a gold washboard that helps in the process of "gravity separation." A riffle is the bit responsible for catching tiny particles of gold.

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Riffle: The riffle is another gold mining tool. Remember the sluice? Well, the riffle is the small strip of metal or wood laid across a gold washboard that helps in the process of "gravity separation." A riffle is the bit responsible for catching tiny particles of gold.

Riffle: The riffle is another gold mining tool. Remember the sluice?...Well, the riffle is the small strip of metal or wood laid across a...gold washboard that helps in the process of "gravity separation." A...riffle is the bit responsible for catching tiny particles of gold.

Image 24 of 24|Which words are special to Californians?

Tim Newman / Getty Images

Make the Riffle: To conclude our gold rush series, as well as our gallery, "making the riffle" means you have succeeded at something. This cowboy looks as if he has made the riffle in all aspects of his life. You go, cowboy. You go.

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Make the Riffle: To conclude our gold rush series, as well as our gallery, "making the riffle" means you have succeeded at something. This cowboy looks as if he has made the riffle in all aspects of his life. You go, cowboy. You go.

Make the Riffle: To conclude our gold rush series, as well as our...gallery, "making the riffle" means you have succeeded at something....This cowboy looks as if he has made the riffle in all aspects of his...life. You go, cowboy. You go.

The Harvard University Press finally took it upon itself to compile all those regional words you’re sometimes surprised to hear a friend use in a casual context with the Dictionary of Regional English, or DARE.

Think of it as an Urban Dictionary you can share with your parents and co-workers without fear of being disowned or encouraged to “retire early.”

The DARE doesn’t cover those regional slang words we’ve come to associate with Northern California, such as “hella,” “hyphy,” or “jazz cigarettes,” but they do identify a whole lot of gold rush terms that have stood the test of time.

As with any good list of regional terminology, most of these terms are totally incomprehensible to everyone except those who had its meaning incepted at a young age. All-ee all-ee oxen free, comes to mind.

It’s amazing that some of these words have lasted long enough to find validation via the Harvard University Press’s regional dictionary, but here we are. For better or for worse, we’ve plucked 24 supposedly Californian words for your consideration.